With 9:10 left on the clock, Johnny Manziel looked across the line of scrimmage at Alabama’s defense. Texas A&M had just taken possession at its own 34-yard line, still ahead 23-17—still on track toward an upset America would have to see to believe.

But this was a freshman quarterback. These were the Aggies, who’d been the opposite of clutch for several years running. And—oh, yes—this was Alabama, the mightiest of the mighty, on its home turf, no less.

What else was going to happen but a stop, at least one more Tide score, and victory as usual for Nick Saban and company?

He’s from SEC country now. A 7-2 record—10-2 overall—for the Aggies in their first season of SEC play stamped Manziel and his program as 100 percent legit.

Who needs the Longhorns? Enemy No. 1 is Alabama now. And Johnny’s already one-up on the Tide.

“We’re definitely trying to bring excitement back to this program,” he says.

Like 4,600 yards of excitement—an SEC total-offense record for Manziel, shattering the mark of some guy named Cam Newton.

Like 43 total touchdowns (19 rushing) of excitement.

Does anybody seriously think Manziel’s only performance of note was against Alabama?

“His numbers speak for themselves against anybody who has played not only this year,” coach Kevin Sumlin says, “but who has (ever) played the game.”

Sumlin calls Manziel “a catalyst for this program,” and that’s obviously quite true. The Aggies finished the regular season ranked third in the nation in total offense and as the SEC’s highest-scoring team.

The SEC is a scary place. All #JohnnyFearless did in his first go-round is kick its tail.